Six Reasons to Give

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If you run a business, you undoubtedly feel many pressures
on your time and money. Why would you want to add "giving
to the community" to your "to do" list? Here are six reasons
.....

1. It feels good. Making contributions to the community is
personally rewarding. Our values are important to us - from
helping kids to supporting neighborhood cleanup efforts.
Charitable contributions enable us to support these values.

2. It's tradition. Local businesses traditionally have been
principal supporters of many community organizations that
do good work. Without the support of the local business
community, many programs that serve your neediest
residents would not exist.

3. It builds company morale. Contributing to organizations
that are important to employees enables business owners
to promote a more positive work environment and build
shared pride in the company's role in the community.
Providing opportunities for employees to contribute, whether
financially or volunteering time, improves morale and helps
reduce turnover.

4. It's good for business. Support for local causes is a good
way for a business to develop a positive image, reinforce
relationships with customers, and develop closer
relationships with community leaders and officials.

5. It's a sign of leadership. Great business leaders are also
leaders in the community. A business owner who stands up
for a cause can inspire others to get involved and can create
confident optimism.

6. It's good for the community. Studies show that vibrant,
healthy communities have a strong network of charitable
and educational organizations. These are supported by the
volunteer time and financial contributions of private citizens
and businesses. Private involvement in the larger
community can affect every aspect of a community's vitality,
including its economy.

Martin Cohn is president of The Cohn Group, Inc., a full
service public relations firm in Needham, Massachusetts.
For the past nine years, The Cohn Group has concentrated
on the promotion of philanthropy. You can read more
articles at http://www.cohngroup.com